Devices, systems and methods for retracting, lifting, compressing, supporting or repositioning tissues or anatomical structures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for changing the shape or cross dimension of a lumen or cavity of a human or animal body, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first anchor, a second anchor and a connecting member that extends between the first anchor and the second anchor;
implanting the first anchor at a first location whereby it engages tissue near the lumen or cavity;
placing the second anchor at a second location whereby it engages tissue near the lumen or cavity; and
positioning and tensioning the connecting member such that the connecting member remains outside of the lumen or cavity and sufficient force is exerted on the lumen or cavity to change to shape or cross dimension of the lumen or cavity;
wherein the lumen or cavity comprises the lumen of an urethra of a subject whose prostate is enlarged such that it has caused a constriction of the lumen of the urethra and wherein the performance of the method results in less constriction of the lumen of the urethra by the enlarged prostate;
wherein the second anchor is constructed and implanted such that it becomes overgrown with tissue such that urine flowing through the lumen of the urethra does not directly contact the second anchor;
further comprising inserting a delivery device into the subject'"'"'s urethra, advancing a penetrator from the delivery device into or through the prostate gland so as to form a penetration tract that extends from the urethra, through prostate tissue and to the first location, delivering the first anchor with the connecting member attached through the penetration tract and causing the first anchor to become anchored at the first location such that the connecting member extends from the first anchor, through the penetration tract and into the urethra.
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Abstract
Devices, systems and methods for retracting, lifting, compressing, supporting or repositioning tissues, organs, anatomical structures, grafts or other structures within the body of human or animal subjects for the purpose of treating a diseases or disorders and/or for cosmetic or reconstructive purposes and/or for research and development purposes or other purposes.
326 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for changing the shape or cross dimension of a lumen or cavity of a human or animal body, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first anchor, a second anchor and a connecting member that extends between the first anchor and the second anchor; implanting the first anchor at a first location whereby it engages tissue near the lumen or cavity; placing the second anchor at a second location whereby it engages tissue near the lumen or cavity; and positioning and tensioning the connecting member such that the connecting member remains outside of the lumen or cavity and sufficient force is exerted on the lumen or cavity to change to shape or cross dimension of the lumen or cavity; wherein the lumen or cavity comprises the lumen of an urethra of a subject whose prostate is enlarged such that it has caused a constriction of the lumen of the urethra and wherein the performance of the method results in less constriction of the lumen of the urethra by the enlarged prostate; wherein the second anchor is constructed and implanted such that it becomes overgrown with tissue such that urine flowing through the lumen of the urethra does not directly contact the second anchor; further comprising inserting a delivery device into the subject'"'"'s urethra, advancing a penetrator from the delivery device into or through the prostate gland so as to form a penetration tract that extends from the urethra, through prostate tissue and to the first location, delivering the first anchor with the connecting member attached through the penetration tract and causing the first anchor to become anchored at the first location such that the connecting member extends from the first anchor, through the penetration tract and into the urethra. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for treating a condition in a human or animal subject wherein a tissue located adjacent to a lumen or cavity is exerting undesired pressure on the lumen or cavity tubular anatomical structure, said method comprising the step of:
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implanting at least one anchor in the body of the subject adjacent to or within the tissue, connecting a tensioning element to the at least one anchor such that the tensioning element is under tension and exerts a force that displaces the tissue away from the tubular anatomical structure; wherein the lumen or cavity comprises the lumen of an urethra of a subject whose prostate is enlarged such that it has caused a constriction of the lumen of the urethra and wherein the performance of the method results in less constriction of the lumen of the urethra by the enlarged prostate; wherein the second anchor is constructed and implanted such that it becomes overgrown with tissue such that urine flowing through the lumen of the urethra does not directly contact the second anchor; further comprising inserting a delivery device into the subject'"'"'s urethra, advancing a penetrator from the delivery device into or through the prostate gland so as to form a penetration tract that extends from the urethra, through prostate tissue and to the first location, delivering the first anchor with the tensioning element attached through the penetration tract and causing the first anchor to become anchored at the first location such that the tensioning element extends from the first anchor, through the penetration tract and into the urethra. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for causing a desired alteration of volitional or non-volitional flow of a body fluid through a lumen of the body of a human or animal subject, said method comprising the steps of:
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positioning an anchor at a first location whereby it engages tissue near the lumen and; attaching said anchor to a tensioning member at a selected location on said tensioning member, said selected location being selected from a plurality of potential locations each of which will result in a different amount of tension on the tensioning member, said selected location resulting in an amount of tension that causes the desired alteration of volitional or non-volitional flow of a body fluid through the lumen; wherein the lumen of an urethra of a subject whose prostate is enlarged such that it has caused a constriction of the lumen of the urethra and wherein the performance of the method results in less constriction of the lumen of an urethra by the enlarged prostate; further comprising inserting a delivery device into the subject'"'"'s urethra, advancing a penetrator from the delivery device into or through the prostate gland so as to form a penetration tract that extends from the urethra, through prostate tissue and to the first location, delivering the anchor with the tensioning member attached through the penetration tract and causing the anchor to become anchored at the first location such that the tensioning member extends from the anchor, through the penetration tract and into the urethra. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for dilating, repositioning or changing the shape of a body lumen in a human or animal subject, said method comprising the steps of:
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implanting two or more support members at spaced apart locations about the body lumen; applying tension to at least some of the support members to create discrete and independent forces that result in dilation, repositioning or a change in shape of the body lumen wherein the body lumen comprises the lumen of an urethra of a subject whose prostate is enlarged such that it has caused a constriction of the lumen of the urethra and wherein the performance of the method results in less constriction of the lumen of the urethra by the enlarged prostate; further comprising inserting a delivery device into the subject'"'"'s urethra, advancing a penetrator from the delivery device into or through the prostate gland so as to form a penetration tract that extends from the urethra, through prostate tissue and to the first location, delivering at least one support member with a connector attached through the penetration tract and causing the at least one support member to become anchored at the first location such that the connector extends from the at least one support member, through the penetration tract and into the urethra. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification